Cat Groove (Stray Cats) by Megan Slayer Page B

hurt you and I’m not a stalker. Give me a chance.”
    “How? I don’t know who you are.”
    “I’m Roman.” He sat down before her and arranged the towel to cover his manhood. “You’re never going to believe me, but I’m a shifter.”
     
    Roman wanted to hold her. He needed to tug her onto his lap and kiss away her upset, but he knew better. She’d called John and, from the confusion on her face, he’d be willing to bet John hadn’t listened to her. The man didn’t deserve her. The jackass treated her like an object and only paid attention to her when he felt the need.
    “Do you remember when you adopted me?” Roman fought the urge to reach for her. “Hildegard said I’d make you happy. She said I was a good fit for you. She wasn’t wrong. Think of all those times we’ve talked. All those times you petted me to feel better. I cherish those moments.”
    “But you’re not Roman -- the cat. You’re a man,” she whispered. “I’ve never seen a shifter before.”
    “Yes, you have,” Roman said. “There was the story on the television. Those two men are my brothers.”
    “Your brothers?” She shook her head. “I don’t believe you.”
    “Jessa, there are four of us. We shift from house cats into men.” How could he make her see she belonged to him and he belonged to her? Goddess, how could he do all that without scaring her? “Just… shit.”
    For the first time since he’d shifted, she smiled. “You honestly want me to shit?” She bit back laughter, but the giggles burst out anyway. “Look, I’m not sure what you are, but if you are my cat, then prove it.”
    Sounded like a plan to him. “I can’t go berserk and do this a ton of times, but yeah, I’ll shift.”
    “Wait.” She stood and waved her hands. “Not here. I want you in a controlled room. Somewhere where you can’t pull a fast one on me.”
    “Like the bathroom?”
    “Yes.” She rested her hands on her hips.
    Roman’s cock twitched beneath the towel. She would have to pick right now to want him to shift. He’d have to ditch the cover-up and she’d see his erection. Great. She’d think he was nuts and a perv. Whatever. No one had said finding his mate would be easy and he doubted convincing Jessa they belonged together would be a small task. He stood and followed her back to the bathroom. Along the way, she grabbed a baseball bat.
    Now she wanted protection. He sighed. He’d do whatever he needed to in order to make her feel safe. He waited as she closed the door.
    “Okay. Shift.” Jessa stared at him. “Do it.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Roman crouched down and closed his eyes. His back itched as fur sprouted from his skin. His bones popped and shrank. Tendons shortened and his claws protruded from his fingers. He shook his head and then opened his eyes. The change had worked. She had to be his mate! He stared up at her and meowed.
    “But…” Jessa reached for him. “Roman?” She clutched him in her arms. “How? Why?” Tears slipped down her cheeks. She held him up to her face. “Brat. You watched me change and shower… you know everything.” Her voice trailed off. “Everything.”
    Roman licked her face, tasting her tears. She’d been through the wringer in the last year. He’d wanted to shift so badly, but he needed the Halloween moon in order for his change to work. All that time he’d watched her stumble into the relationship with John. He crinkled his nose and sneezed. Just thinking about her boyfriend pissed him off. The man wanted her to change. She needed to diet to be thinner because John said so. Her hair wasn’t the right color so she dyed it because of him. Then there was the clothing he insisted she wear -- all black and nothing too revealing because she didn’t have a figure to reveal. The jackass cut her down at every chance, and she believed him because he reminded her over and over he was the best she’d get.
    Bullshit. Roman wriggled in her arms. He could shift and by goddess,